WiFiNetNews summarizes recent announcements that enhance WiFi network management and quality of service.
- Colubris introduced software that complies with 802.11e and supports quality of service mechanisms. It enables the deployment of voice and video applications. They’re also teamed with Vocera, that StarTrek-style voice badge.
- Netgear s AutoCell from Propagate Networks is an RF management technology targeted at the small- and medium-sized businesses. It works on the NETGEAR ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Access Point WG302 and ProSafe 802.11a/b/g Dual Band PC Card WAG511 via a free firmware upgrade. AutoCell technology optimizes wireless LAN performance with automatic channel selection and RF power management.
- The AirWave Management Platform has been selected as the preferred solution for managing complex, multi-vendor wireless network environments by ProCurve Networking by HP. AMP is a fully vendor-agnostic solution that supports new and legacy Wi-Fi hardware from leading vendors, including Avaya, Cisco, Colubris, Enterasys, HP ProCurve, Intel, Proxim, Symbol, and others.
The Sputnik Management System, teamed with their $99 AP-160, is one of the most inexpensive “cloud” management systems yet.
Other “city cloud” management solutions and mesh solutions include:
- ORiNOCO Smart Wireless Suite, co-developed by Proxim and WLAN software manager vendor Wavelink, provides Proxim’s preferred management system. It combines products from Wavelink and location-technology provider Ekahau.
- D-Link and LucidLink software provide easy setup and configuration of “enterprise-level” network security and access control provided by an 802.1x RADIUS authentication server without the complexities of administering one. It uses D-Link’s DWL-2100AP.
- Airpath’s WiBOSS Lite (Wireless Broadband Operational Support System) is a hosted web-based application that performs the back-office tasks to operate and manage public Internet access services for Free Hotspots, with branding independence. It works with a variety of WiFi hotspots. They feature configurable redirect pages with advertising and (walled garden) locations where end-users can visit free. Airpath & Firetide have also teamed for Mesh.
- Colubris Networks Management System works with CN3200 802.11a/b/g hotspots
- IBM Global Services is working with Aruba and its wireless switch rival Airespace.
- Proxim’s Wavelan Manager works with ORiNOCO AP Hotspots
- Pronto Networks’ Inspira is licensed to work with 25, 50 or 100 Pronto-compatible hotspots.
- Pronto Networks and Firetide, a mesh networking startup, have a partnership for meshed Wi-Fi hot zones.
- Tropos offers a centralized network manager that provides real-time monitoring and control of its outdoor meshed cells.
- Trapeze Networks, a provider of “smart wireless switches”, is partnering with Nomadix, a leading supplier of public-access Wi-Fi hotspots, and PicoPoint, the provider of complete back-office solutions for Wireless ISPs (WISPs) for a Wireless WorkZone Alliance.
- The Netopia Hot Spot Gateway integrates with the Netopia Hot Spot Service to control and meter Wi-Fi access.
- Austin Wireless is making more than 175 newspapers and magazine accessible at Austin’s hot spots in a deal with NewsStand. The project consists of 75 (free) locations in Austin and 117 locations worldwide — Less Networks helps support the global locations. Their free kickstart software/disk includes the Red Hat distribution with NoCatAuth.
- Midas Telecom offer an on-line billing system that integrates with the LocustWorld Mesh, giving mesh operators a ready-made customer accounts system that handles new customer sign-up, regular subscriptions and payments from users.
- Cisco Systems has a centralized wireless LAN security and management project and a wireless LAN switch — codenamed “Screaming Eagle” — according to Unstrung. The $18,000 hardware will control up to 150 Cisco Aironet access points, such as the 802.11g/b Aironet 1300 ($1,299). Cisco is using software from SpectraLink to implement a software-based QOS mechanisms on its access points. It’s said to produce glitch-free roaming with voice.
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